Intercropping oilseed rape as a potential relay crop for enhancing the biological control of green peach aphids and aphid‐transmitted virus diseases

Abstract

Tobacco viruses transmitted by green peach aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), cause severe disease in flue‐cured tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae), in China and throughout the world. Field experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 in Longyan City, Fujian Province, China, to determine whether M. persicae and aphid‐transmitted virus diseases are affected by intercropping of oilseed rape, Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae), in tobacco fields. The results showed that, compared with those in monocultured fields, the densities of M. persicae and winged aphids in intercropped fields significantly decreased in both 2016 and 2017. In particular, the appearance of winged aphids was delayed by ca. 7 days. Moreover, the densities of Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae), a parasitoid of the aphid, significantly increased in 2016 and 2017. Accordingly, the incidence rates of aphid‐transmitted virus diseases (those caused by the cucumber mosaic virus, potato virus Y, and tobacco etch virus) significantly decreased in the intercropped fields in 2016 and 2017. Tobacco yields and monetary value significantly increased in 2016 (by 10–25 and 14–29%, respectively) and 2017 (by 17–22 and 22–34%, respectively). Consequently, our results suggest that intercropping oilseed rape in tobacco fields is a good approach to regulating and controlling aphids and tobacco mosaic viruses, for example potyvirus, and this intercropping can help control aphid‐transmitted virus diseases in tobacco.

Intercropped Flemingia macrophylla successfully traps tea aphid (Toxoptera aurantia) and alters associated networks to enhance tea quality

“…This trap legume successfully reduced aphid population on the nearby focal tea, consistent with oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), significantly decreasing the population of peach aphids (Myzus persicae) on the tobacco plants. 42 Intercropping management did not have a significant impact on aphid, ant and predator densities in the year 2017. This may be attributed to intrinsic fluctuations within the aphid population.…”

Relay cropping as an adaptive strategy to cope with climate change

“…Lai et al. (2019) reported that oilseed rape ( Brassica napus L.) intercropped in tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) fields reduced aphid populations and increased parasitoid abundance. Similarly, Lopes et al.…”

“…Push-pull farming methods use the push of repelling insect pests and attracting beneficial insects (Picket et al, 2014). Lai et al (2019) reported that oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) intercropped in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) fields reduced aphid populations and increased parasitoid abundance. Similarly, Lopes et al (2016) and Letournau et al ( 2011) looked at multiple studies and found that in diversified and intercropping systems, insect pest abundance was generally decreased, natural enemy populations were enhanced, and crop damage was reduced.…”

Impact of Intercropping on the Diazotrophic Community in the Soils of Continuous Cucumber Cropping Systems

“…Previously, several vegetable species belonging to Leguminosae ( Thorsted et al, 2006 ), Brassicaceae ( Lai et al, 2019 ), Gramineae ( Xu et al, 2013 , 2015 ), and Compositae ( Hamida et al, 2016 ) have been shown to have overall beneficial effects on component crop production during intercropping. Therefore, in this study, we selected seven plants from those families and intercropped with cucumber to investigate their effects on the diazotrophic community in the soils of continuous cucumber cropping systems.…”